AK HJR18

Alaska Legislature urges U.S. Congress to pass S. 437, the Improved National Monument Designation Process Act, which would require presidential monument designations to be approved by Congress and affected states within 100 miles

Resolution opposes unilateral presidential expansion of national monuments, citing President Obama's establishment of 10 new monuments and addition of approximately 400,000 square miles to the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in 2014

Asserts that monument designations without economic impact consideration harm regional economies through restrictions on natural resource development, commercial fishing, and tourism

States that proposed legislation would strengthen the "no more" clauses of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which promised balance between environmental protection and Alaska's economic needs

Resolution to be sent to President Obama, Vice President Biden, congressional leadership, and all members of the 114th Congress